2011 BMW M3 US Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 BMW M3 US, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine430.8%
- Airbags323.1%
- Powertrain (other)323.1%
- Electrical215.4%
- Fuel system17.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON A CALIFORNIA INTERSTATE, MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST FORWARD MOMENTUM, POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. WHEN I LOOKED DOWN TO THE DASH, THE DCT TRANSMISSION HAD SHIFTED ITSELF TO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN. I UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED A RESTART AS I TRIED TO SAFELY MAKE MY WAY THROUGH THE RIGHT LANES OF TRAFFIC SO I COULD PULL OFF ON THE SHOULDER. AFTER NARROWLY BEING HIT BY PASSING CARS, I MANAGED TO GET INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND COAST OFF A FREEWAY EXIT RAMP. THE CAR BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND BRAKE. AS I TURNED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS SOON AS I HIT 10MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY PUT ITSELF IN PARK, CAUSING A JOLTING SENSATION AND AN ABRUPT, UNSAFE STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OVER SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT MORNING I WAS ALERTED THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL PAN AND THAT CYLINDER ONE HAD SEIZED DUE TO ROD BEARING FAILURE. THE ENGINE HAD 53,000 MILES WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THIS NECESSITATED A FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT.
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS TRAVELING AROUND 45MPH. AS I SWITCHED GEARS FROM 2ND TO 3RD I NOTICED AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER. MY VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART MY CAR. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE CAR THEY SAID THERE WAS AN ENGINE FAILURE MOST LIKELY DUE TO ROD BEARING FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAKATA RECALL BMW DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE HONORING THEIR RECALL OBLIGATION. I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE DESPITE CONTACTING THE DEALER REPEATEDLY. BMW HAS BEEN PROMISING THE PARTS FOR OVER ONE YEAR NOW. I BELIEVE THEY ARE STALLING TO REDUCE THEIR COST DUE TO CARS FALLING OUT OF SERVICE FROM WRECKS ETC. THE DEALER ALSO REFUSES TO DISABLE THE AIRBAGS LEAVING BMW OWNERS NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS CARS. YET THEY CAN FIND ENOUGH AIRBAGS TO MANUFACTURE NEW VEHICLES. I KNOW THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM BUT IF THE NHSTA CAN EXERT A LITTLE PRESSURE FOR THESE AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURERS TO EMPHASIZE REPAIRING THEIR POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CARS THE PUBLIC WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3 US. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3 US. WHILE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RALLYE BMW (516-393-0000, LOCATED AT 1 BRUSH HOLLOW RD, WESTBURY, NY 11590) WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BATTERY BE REPLACED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE SAME AS THE ONE LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V472000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,250.
MY CAR WAS IN SECOND WASN'T SPEEDING ON A LOCAL STREET AS I PUT IT IN 3RD GEAR MY CAR SHUT OFF THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START BACK UP. I TOOK IT TO BMW SINCE I HAVE WARRANTY FOR 3 YEAS MIND YOU I ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 5 MONTHS I GOT THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN TENAFLY,NJ I GOT THE CAR AT 31K MILES ON IT AND WHEN MY CAR LAST WORK WHICH WAS LAST WEEK IT HAS 36K THERE TELLING I HAVE TO PAY 26K UP TO FIX . *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW M3 US. WHILE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RALLYE BMW (516-393-0000, LOCATED AT 1 BRUSH HOLLOW RD, WESTBURY, NY 11590) WHERE IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BATTERY BE REPLACED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE SAME AS THE ONE LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V472000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,250.
AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE THIRD LANE AT 70 MPH MY ENTIRE ELECTRICITY TO THE CAR SHUT OFF . WITH THREE CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND NO TIME TO GET OVER I ALMOST GOT HIT . AFTER BEING STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF SEVERAL HIGH SPEEDING CAR. IT SUDDENLY CAME ON AGAIN. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME ,JUST THE DANGEROUS MOMENT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY, REPLACED IT AN THIS HAPPENS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING IN 60/MPH SPEED. WHEN OVERTAKING A TRUCK; 'ENGINE FAULT' WARNING LIGHT CAME-UP. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY TURNED TO NEUTRAL. ENGINE WAS CUT-OFF. TRUCK WAS ABOUT TO REAR-END MY CAR. UNFORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT (TODDLER WAS INSIDE THE CAR). I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND CALLED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TOWED THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED TODAY THAT THIS ISSUE WAS DUE TO 'FAULTY FUEL PRESSURE VACUUM SENSOR'. I REQUEST NHTSA & BMW TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND DETERMINE IF A RE-CALL IS REQUIRED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM W/ SIMILAR MODEL/YEAR CARS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .